Lever-type connector

Abstract

A lever-installed cover ( 50 ) is inserted into a lever accommodation space ( 40 4) disposed between a wall ( 41 ) of a female housing ( 21 ) and an accommodation wall ( 42 ). A reinforcing wall ( 43 ) connects a front end of the wall ( 41 ) and that of the accommodation wall (42) to each other. An opening ( 45 ) through which a follower pin ( 17 ) of a male connector ( 10 ) can pass is formed on the reinforcing wall ( 43 ). The opening ( 45 ) matches an entrance of a cam groove ( 74 ) of the lever ( 70 ) when the lever ( 70 ) is located at an initial position. Both connectors ( 10 ) and ( 20 ) are fitted on each other and removed from each other by rotating the lever ( 70 ), with the cam groove ( 74 ) of the lever ( 70 ) engaging the follower pin ( 17 ). The lever ( 70 ) can be rotated back to the initial position to separate the connectors ( 10 ) and ( 20 ) from each other. The follower pin ( 17 ) slides on the guide portion ( 81 ) formed at the rear edge of the open portion ( 45 ). Thus, the follower pin ( 17 ) can be guided smoothly to the open portion ( 45 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A lever-type connector, comprising: 
       a first connector housing having a first hood with a front end, oppositely directed top and bottom follower pins formed on the first hood,  
       a second connector housing having a second hood with a front end, the front end of the first hood being insertable into the front end of the second hood, the second hood comprising opposed top and bottom hood walls formed respective with top and bottom guide grooves extending rearwardly from the front end and disposed to receive the follower pins when the first hood is inserted into the second hood,  
       top and bottom accommodation walls parallel to and spaced from the respective top and bottom hood walls for defining top and bottom lever accommodation spaces,  
       a lever having parallel top and bottom legs rotatably mounted in the respective top and bottom lever accommodation spaces on the second connector housing, the legs each having a cam groove dimensioned to receive a respective one of the follower pins such that rotation of the lever moves the follower pins in the guide grooves and moves the first and second connector housings relative to one another, and  
       top and bottom reinforcing walls extending between the respective top and bottom accommodation walls and the top and bottom hood walls at the front end of the second hood, the reinforcing walls each having an opening aligned with one of the guide grooves and dimensioned to receive one of said follower pins, a rearwardly facing surface of each said reinforcing wall adjacent the respective opening being tapered to facilitate alignment of the follower pin with the opening during separation of the housings.  
     
     
       2. The lever-type connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second connector housing further comprises a rear end, a cover being mounted to the rear end, the lever being mounted to the cover. 
     
     
       3. The lever-type connector of  claim 1 , wherein portions each said leg of the lever adjacent the respective cam groove define a bridging wall with a tapered rear surface for guiding the follower pins toward the respective openings. 
     
     
       4. The lever-type connector of  claim 3 , wherein the tapered rear surface of each of the bridging wall is substantially parallel to the tapered rearwardly facing surface adjacent the respective opening of the reinforcing wall. 
     
     
       5. The lever-type connector of  claim 4 , wherein each of the bridging wall further comprises a tapered front surface aligned substantially parallel to the tapered rear surface thereof. 
     
     
       6. The lever-type connector of  claim 5 , wherein the top and bottom legs of the lever are substantially parallel to and in sliding engagement with the top and bottom hood walls of the second hood. 
     
     
       7. The lever-type connector of  claim 6 , wherein the bridging walls are substantially parallel to and spaced from the respective top and bottom hood walls of the second hood. 
     
     
       8. The lever-type connector of  claim 1 , wherein front-facing surfaces of the reinforcing walls adjacent the openings are tapered to facilitate insertion of the follower pin. 
     
     
       9. The lever-type connector of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom follower pins are substantially adjacent the front end of the first hood. 
     
     
       10. The lever-type connector of  claim 9 , wherein each said follower pin include a cylindrical base portion adjacent the first hood and a disc-shaped flange spaced from said first hood, the flange having rounded edges for guiding engagement with the tapered rearwardly facing surfaces of the openings in the reinforcing wall. 
     
     
       11. The lever-type connector of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are spaced from the top and bottom accommodation walls, the tapered rearwardly facing surfaces of the reinforcing walls adjacent the respective openings including surfaces extending toward the respective top and bottom hood walls. 
     
     
       12. The lever-type connector of  claim 11 , wherein the cam grooves of the lever each include an opening end alignable with the opening in the reinforcing wall when the lever is in an initial rotational orientation relative to the second connector housing, bridging walls formed on portions of said lever adjacent the respective top and bottom accommodation walls and bridging the opening end of the respective cam grooves, the bridging walls each defining a thickness substantially equal to a distance between the respective openings and the corresponding top and bottom accommodation walls.